The Obama administration has released a report detailing what it says are the economic benefits of food stamps, just as millions of Americans prepare to sit down to their Thanksgiving meals.

The report – which says the food-stamp program kept nearly 5 million people out of poverty in 2012 – comes after members of Congress left for the holiday break without passing a new farm bill. A major sticking point is funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the formal name for the food-stamp program.

House Republicans and Senate Democrats are far apart on the issue, with the GOP aiming to cut $40 billion in funds over 10 years. Democrats’ number is $4 billion.

The White House’s report sharply criticizes the House bill, saying it would completely eliminate access to SNAP for 3.8 million low-income people next year.

“The drastic cuts in the House bill would greatly harm families struggling to find work and those that depend on low-wage jobs as the economy continues to recover,” the report says.

Lawmakers have said they plan to have a new five-year farm bill ready by January. That’s when dairy programs would first be affected by a lapse in funding.